29, September 2016

PRAGATI is a unique integrating and interactive platform. The platform is aimed at addressing common man’s grievances, and simultaneously monitoring and reviewing important programmes and projects of the Government of India as well as projects flagged by State Governments.

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister has given its approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the field of Industrial Property Cooperation between Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry and the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS), Ministry of Law, Government of Singapore.

The MoU will enhance bilateral cooperation activities in the arena of Industrial Property Rights of Patents, Trademarks and Industrial Designs. It is intended to give a boost to innovation, creativity and technological advancement in both regions.

The Exchange of best practices, experiences and knowledge on Intellectual Property awareness among the public, businesses and educational institutions of both countries

Exchange of experts specialized in the field of intellectual property

Exchange and dissemination of best practices, experiences and knowledge on IP with the industry, universities, R & D organizations and Small and Medium Enterprises

Cooperation in the development of automation and implementation of modernization projects

Partnership in IP-related training for local IP and business.

BENEFITS:

The MoU will enable India to exchange experiences in the innovation and IP ecosystems that will substantially benefit entrepreneurs, investor and businesses on both sides.

The exchange of best practices between the two countries will lead to improved protection and awareness about India’s range of Intellectual creations which are as diverse as its people.

It will be a landmark step forward in India’s journey towards becoming a major player in global innovation and will further the objectives of the National IPR Policy, 2016.

3.VARISHTHA PENSION BIMA YOJANA

Source: PIB

Pension schemes intended to give an assured minimum pension to the Senior Citizens based on an assured minimum return on the subscription amount.

The pension is envisaged until death from the date of subscription, with payback of the subscription amount on death of the subscriber to the nominee.

Benefit of citizens aged 60 years and above.

LIC of India has been given the sole privilege to operate this scheme.

4.Cabinet approves an Undertaking between India and Korea on Mutual Recognition of Certificates for Seafarers, 1978

SOURCE: PIB

Cabinet approves an Undertaking between India and Korea on Mutual Recognition of Certificates for Seafarers, 1978

It is in pursuance of the Regulation 1/10 of International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping (STCW) for Seafarers, 1978, as amended.

Undertaking will pave way for recognition of maritime education and training, certificates of competency, endorsements, training documentary evidence and medical fitness certificates for seafarers issued by the Government of the other country.

It is done in accordance with the provisions ofregulation 1/10 of the STCW Convention, and cooperation between the two countries in the training, certification and management of seafarers.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister has approved ‘Project SAKSHAM’, a New Indirect Tax Network (Systems Integration) of the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC).

The total cost of the project is estimated to be Rs 2256 crore, which will be incurred over a period of seven years

‘Project SAKSHAM’:

Under the project, the CBEC’s existing IT systems will be integrated with the GST Network. This is required for processing of registration, payment and returns data sent by GSTN systems to CBEC, as well as act as a front-end for other modules such as audit, appeals, investigation.

The exercise is also expected to help the indirect tax department cater to the larger number of taxpayers when GST rolls out from April 1, 2017. According to official estimates, the number of taxpayers under various indirect tax laws administered by CBEC is about 36 lakh at present, and will nearly double to 65 lakh after the introduction of GST.

It will also help in implementation of GST, extension of the Indian Customs Single Window Interface for Facilitating Trade and other taxpayer-friendly initiatives under Digital India and ease of doing business.

To provide clean cooking fuel to the women belonging to the ‘Below Poverty Line’ (BPL) households across the country.

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) aims to provide LPG connections to 5 Crore BPL households by 2019 and is a part of larger program of adding 10 crore new LPG connections by 2019 to achieve full coverage of connections in Indian households.

Providing LPG connections to BPL households will ensure universal coverage of cooking gas in the country.

The scheme of providing clean cooking fuel will also reduce drudgery and the time spent on cooking and will also provide employment for rural youth in the supply chain of cooking gas.

7.JNPT Now Harnessing Solar Power:- (Ministry of Shipping)

SOURCE: PIB

India’s largest container port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) will now harness solar energy and reduce its dependency on conventional electricity from the grid. JNPT is installing solar power plant on several rooftops in its township and commercial premises.

This 822 KWp of solar rooftop capacity is being installed at an expense of Rs 4.5 crore, supported by a 15% subsidy from SECI (part of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy)

This is a small but a significant step in the Central government’s widespread initiative to promote solar energy in our country and will contribute to the government’s ambitious target of having 1,00,000 MW of solar capacity installed in India by 2022.

8.Fine particulates causing chronic illnesses: WHO Study (Invisible foe in air kills 600,000 in a year)

Source: The Hindu

As per the study conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) air pollution caused by fine particulate matter (PM) is causing long-lasting disease chronic illnesses.

About a fifth of the 3 million people died worldwide because of exposure to fine PM2.5 which may have aggravated or been directly responsible for cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer.

WHO study:

The findings were based on data derived from satellite measurements, ground station monitors for more than 3000 locations, both rural and urban and air transport models.

The study did not tool actual impact of air pollution as it does not include the separate impacts on health from other air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) or ozone (O3).

While all regions of the world are affected by the PM air pollution but the populations in low-income cities are the most impacted.

Overall, 98% of cities in low- and middle income countries with more than 100,000 inhabitants do not meet 10µg/m3 WHO air quality standard of PM2.5. However, in high-income countries, this percentage decreases to 56%.

9.Almost every household has a bank account: Labour Bureau

Source: The Hindu

According to the latest Labour Bureau data, almost every household in the country is a part of the banking system, mainly due to government’s financial inclusion plans.

Around 94.4% households had saving bank accounts in 2015-16. The figure was much higher than the official figure (58.7%) of households with saving bank accounts in India, as per Census 2011.

While 93.4% households in rural areas had a bank account, 96.8% houses had a savings bank account in the urban parts.

Background:

According to the data, Government of India’s recent initiatives to enhance the financial inclusion and accessibility of financial institutions such as Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency (Mudra) Yojana may have translated into entering of more population in the ambit of formal financial activities.

Vinoba IAS Academy is one of the leading centers dedicated to the noble objective of training and tutoring the civil service aspirants. Our aim is to not just provide the educational coaching but also to walk the student step by step through the much needed detailed guidance, touching every aspect of training for the exams.